Amaranthe edged Benfica B 1:0 at the Estádio Municipal de Amarante on Sunday, a narrow victory that keeps them rooted in the lower half of Liga Portugal 2 while the visitors remain in touch with the upper echelons. The match was the fourth round of the regular season, and from the first whistle Benfica B looked the more expansive side, though their dominance never quite translated into goals. Amaranthe absorbed the pressure and took their chance when it came.
The decisive moment arrived in the 15th minute when M. Costa found the back of the net, a goal that gave the home side a cushion they would not relinquish. Benfica B pushed forward after that, but their attacks were often blunt, and the visitors could not find a way through a disciplined Amaranthe defence. To be fair, the hosts had their own moments, but none that tested the goalkeeper seriously.
Benfica B paid a price for their frustration in the 43rd minute when Gabriel Indio picked up a booking, a yellow card that arrived as the half drew to a close. The visitors dominated possession at 61 per cent and registered more attacks, but the statistics tell only half the story. By then Amaranthe had settled into a structure that denied space and allowed them to play at their own tempo.
The second half brought a flurry of changes, with Amaranthe making four substitutions and Benfica B adding five. M. Costa came off in the 65th minute, replaced by Tokinho Doria, and the home side continued to manage the game without panic. Benfica B threw bodies forward but could not convert their possession into clear-cut opportunities, and the match gradually moved towards a conclusion.
The numbers painted a familiar picture: Benfica B controlled the ball but Amaranthe were more efficient in front of goal. The hosts registered seven shots on target compared to four for the visitors, and their shots accuracy of 47 per cent told the tale more clearly than possession figures. Amaranthe had 75 attacks to Benfica B's 91, yet only one required a save from the goalkeeper.
The result leaves Amaranthe in 13th place on four points from four games, while Benfica B move up to eighth with seven points. The home side's recent form has been difficult — they have not won since the opening day — but this performance showed a resilience they have not always displayed. Benfica B's unbeaten run continues, but they will reflect on a match where they created more without securing more.
